BILL OF THE WEEK October 23, 2011 THE TOUGH times have finally reached Mayfair. When four private investors hit Bellamys on Bruton Place, they economised by settling for only the second-most expensive vintage on the wine list that prides itself on “accessible prices” – the 1982 Château Cos d’Estournel St Estèphe at £975. Add in a £150 bottle of 2007 Clos des [...]
Opening up a new vista in air travel October 23, 2011 THE Nina J is bobbing up and down in the clear sparkling Riviera water, flanked by other super yachts that occasionally eject bevies of python and white linen-clad babes ready to take Monaco by storm. Around the pier, portly perma-tanned sugar daddies squeeze the waists of their young Ivankas as they ponder how to blow [...]
Washington DC October 23, 2011 Food DC’s West End lies within an easy stroll of the White House, so there are plenty of opportunities for “power dining” among the area’s officials, lobbyists – and visitors alike. The Old Ebbitt Grill’s Oyster Bar is rightfully renowned, has an authentic Victorian interior, and being two blocks from the White House was a [...]
Protesters defy St Paul’s tourism pleas October 20, 2011 PROTESTERS outside St Paul’s yesterday dismissed fears their camp could force the closure of the Cathedral. Activists appeared indifferent after the clergy pleaded with them to consider the “risk to the life of the cathedral” created by the fall in visitor numbers since the protest began One activist named Lucy, 32, who described herself as [...]
RACEHORSE OWNERS DO THE DOUBLE AT GREEN’S October 20, 2011 IT HAS been two years since Lloyds Bank on Cornhill became the City outpost of Green’s. And to mark the occasion, the restaurant’s co-owner Simon Parker-Bowles threw a “double celebration” for his horse racing associates at the mezzanine Runner Bar. Double, because Parker-Bowles also unveiled the collection of silks donated by his friends: the colours [...]
Learning to cook El Bulli-style October 19, 2011 The Family Meal: Home cooking with Ferran Adrià Ferran Adrià £19.95, Phaidon WHERE the allure of Jamie Oliver’s and Nigella’s books comes from the idea that you’ll cook like them, “The Family Meal” is less “cook like Ferran”, but “eat like Ferran”. The recipes are a fresh insight into the working life at the now [...]
Following Soho’s Norman invasion October 19, 2011 RUSSELL NORMAN was the former operations director at Caprice Holdings, where he launched concepts such as the Ivy Club with Mark Hix, chef director at the time. He left in 2008 to set up Polpo, a Venetian bacaro, which serves small Italian plates in an informal setting. Following Polpo’s success (which was recently named 25th [...]
WHAT THE OTHER PAPERS SAY THIS MORNING October 18, 2011 FINANCIAL TIMES FRANCE WARNS OVER EURO CRISIS France has warned that European unity would be at risk if Eurozone leaders failed to take bold action to tackle its sovereign debt crisis at a crucial summit this weekend. President Nicolas Sarkozy said leaders will take “very important decisions in the coming days” and said the destruction [...]
Whitbread in dividend hike as profits lift October 18, 2011 WHITBREAD yesterday reported forecast busting first-half pre-tax profits and ramped up its interim dividend. The performance of its Premier Inn and Costa Coffee chains fuelled the rise. Whitbread, which also operates the Beefeater and Brewers Fayre pub restaurant chains, said underlying pre-tax profits rose 15.2 per cent to £174.9m in the six months to 1 [...]
Whitbread beats target and hikes dividend October 18, 2011 Britain’s biggest hotel and coffee shop operator Whitbread reported higher-than-expected first-half pre-tax profits and ramped up its interim dividend by over 50 per cent. Whitbread, which operates the Premier Inn and Costa Coffee chains, said underlying pre-tax profits rose by 15.2 per cent to £174.9m in the six months to 1 September against a consensus [...]